Remembering 9/11: lessons in service, sacrifice, and resilience

Each September, we pause to remember Sept. 11, 2001. For many of us, it is a day etched permanently in memory — the shock, the images, the sorrow, and the resolve that followed.
For our students, however, 9/11 is not a lived experience. To them, it is history. That reality makes our responsibility as educators, parents, and community members all the more important.
On Sept. 11, I was in my third year of teaching social studies and history. Like many of my colleagues, I walked into school that morning expecting a typical day. By mid-morning, everything had changed. I had the only classroom in the entire school with a TV connected to cable, and by the time the news unfolded, my room quickly became a hub for students and staff.
We gathered together all day, watching history in real time and trying to make sense of the unthinkable. I remember standing there, searching for the right words to guide my students through fear and uncertainty. It was one of those moments in teaching when textbooks didn’t have the answers — when students needed adults to be calm, steady, and present.
As a Marine Corps veteran, the events of that day carried an even deeper weight. I knew that the attacks would change our country, and I knew that the men and women of our armed forces would soon be called to new and difficult missions. That perspective made me reflect not only on my time in uniform but also on the meaning of service.
Service comes in many forms — whether through military duty, public service, or simply looking out for a neighbor. The days after 9/11 reminded us of that, as Americans came together in ways that transcended politics, geography, and differences.
Now, nearly a quarter century later, we live in a world shaped by those events. Our students have grown up in an America where airport security, overseas conflicts, and terms like “homeland security” have always existed. But they have also grown up in an America that has repeatedly shown resilience — the ability to rebuild, to adapt, and to move forward without forgetting the sacrifices that were made.
In schools, our task is not only to teach the historical facts of 9/11 but also to pass along the lessons. The lesson of courage, seen in firefighters, police officers, and first responders who ran toward danger when everyone else was running away. The lesson of unity, when people across the country lined up to donate blood, flew flags on their porches, and found strength in one another. The lesson of sacrifice, as thousands of families lost loved ones that day and many more sacrificed in the years of military service that followed.
As superintendent, I see another lesson that applies to education: the importance of preparing young people for an uncertain world. We cannot predict the challenges our students will face, but we can give them the tools to be thoughtful, resilient, and compassionate citizens. That means equipping them with knowledge, yes — but also with character.
On this anniversary of 9/11, I encourage our community to do two things. First, take a moment to remember. Share your story with a young person. Let them know what you felt, what you saw, and how it changed you. In doing so, you make history real for them. Second, honor the spirit of service. Whether through volunteering, supporting a local organization, or simply reaching out to someone in need, we keep the memory of that unity alive when we serve others.
As a Marine, as a teacher, and now as a superintendent, I believe the legacy of 9/11 is not only about what we lost but also about what we carry forward. I’ll never forget that crowded classroom on 9/11, filled with students and colleagues looking for answers, comfort, and reassurance.
That memory reminds me every day why we teach, why we lead, and why we serve. May we continue to honor the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of that day by carrying those lessons into our classrooms and our community.